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AMERICAN HISTORY AND PREHISTORY,
AND IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL
BEGIN A TWO-PART SERIES AS WE
VISIT THE HENSCHEL INDIAN MUSEUM
IN ELKHART LAKE.
THEN JUDY NUGENT BEGINS A
TWO-PART SERIES ON BEAVER
TRAPPING WITH TOM WONDRASH, BUT
FIRST, DEBBY WOLNIAK JOINS
MEMBERS OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD
ON LAKE MICHIGAN AS THEY
DEMONSTRATE TWO WATER RESCUE
DRILLS.
I'M DAN SMALL, AND IT'S TIME
ONCE AGAIN FOR "OUTDOOR
WISCONSIN."
♪ SUMMER TO FALL, WINTER TO
SPRING ♪
♪ FROM GREEN BAY TO WHERE THE
ST. CROIX SINGS ♪
♪ FROM KETTLE MORAINE TO
SUPERIOR'S SHORE ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪♪
>> WISCONSINITES LOVE
WATER-BASED RECREATION, BUT IN
2012, THERE WERE 23 DROWNING
FATALITIES IN WISCONSIN WATERS.
MOST OF THOSE DEATHS COULD HAVE
BEEN PREVENTED IF THE VICTIM HAD
SIMPLY BEEN WEARING A PERSONAL
FLOTATION DEVICE OR LIFE JACKET.
DURING THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL SAFE
BOATING WEEK IN MAY, DEBBY
WOLNIAK JOINED MEMBERS OF THE
U.S. COAST GUARD AS THEY
DEMONSTRATED WATER RESCUE DRILLS
ON LAKE MICHIGAN OFF MILWAUKEE.
>> THIS IS THE COAST GUARD
45-FOOT RESPONSE BOAT, MEDIUM.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAD OUT AND DO A
COUPLE OF DRILLS, IT'S OUR
STANDARD DRILLS THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE USE TO HOAN OUR SKILLS.
FIRST DRILL WE'LL BE DOING IS A
MAN OVERBOARD DRILL.
IT CAN BE USED IN TWO DIFFERENT
WAYS.
WE TRAIN FOR WHERE IF IT WAS ONE
OF OUR CREW MEMBERS GOING
OVERBOARD, OR IF WE HAD TO PICK
SOME PERSON IN THE WATER UP, SO
IT WORKS FOR BOTH WAYS, BUT
WE'LL DO IT TODAY AS IF ONE OF
OUR CREW MEMBERS WENT OVERBOARD.
>> WHY DID YOU THROW THE RING
RIGHT AT THE OTHER POINT?
>> THAT IS TO MARK OUR POSITION,
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A FORCE OF
HABIT.
WE DO IT YOU WILL -- WE DO IT
ALL THE TIME TO MARK OUR
POSITION AND AT NIGHT IT HAS A
STROBE LIGHT ON IT, IT WILL
FLASH, SO WE HAVE A GENERAL IDEA
OF WHERE THE PERSON WENT, IF WE
EVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE PERSON
THAT WENT IN THE WATER, SO IT
HELPS US KEEP OUR SPOT AND WE
HAVE A RELATIVE IDEA.
IT SHOULD FLOAT THE SAME WAY.
>> TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE DO OUR TRAINING AND WE GET
DRILLS FOR -- READY FOR
OPERATIONS, LIKE OUR BIG
INSPECTIONS, WE HAVE ROUGHLY
THREE MINUTES ONCE WE PUSH THEM
IN THE WATER, WE WILL PICK THEM
UP.
>> BRING THEM ON BOARD.
>> BRING IT ON BOARD.
>>
>> WHAT WE'LL DO IS USUALLY, IF
RIGHT AWAY, WE'LL SEND HIM OFF
TO AN EMT, IF THEY'RE SERIOUSLY
INJURED OR A SAFE HAVEN LIKE
MCKINLEY AND PASS ALL THE
INFORMATION WE'VE GOT.
>> MAKE SURE HE CAN BREATHE.
>> WELL, BASICALLY, YOU TAKE OFF
ALL HIS CLOTHES, MAKE SURE HE
DOESN'T HAVE CUTS OR BRUISES.
BRING HIM IN, GIVE HIM A
BLANKET.
GO AHEAD, NEAR SAFE HAVEN, GET
HIM MEDICAL.
>> PICK UP DATA.
>> WE'RE GOING TO DO A
THOUSAND -- DO A TOW, WHICH WE
HANDLE A LOT IN THE SUMMERTIME
AND BOATING SEASON.
WHETHER IT'S DISABLED VESSEL OR
A DISTRESS VESSEL, WE'LL COME
INTO TOWING SITUATIONS.
AND WE WILL RUN THAT DRILL ALSO,
WITH THE WHOLE CREW INVOLVED,
AND PUT OUR AUXILIARY VESSEL IN
TO TOW AS A TRAINING EVOLUTION.
>> SO WE'RE GOING TO DO A STERN
TOW, TEND THE LINE FROM THE STAR
BOARD SIDE.
I'LL HAVE BOWMAN LINE ONE THROW.
IF ANYTHING GOES CRAZY, AND
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, BREAK YOUR
FIST, HAVE HIM BREAK TOW, JUST
LET ME KNOW, ALL RIGHT, AND LET
HIM KNOW ALSO.
OTHER THAN THAT, JUST BE SAFE
AND LET'S COMMUNICATE.
>> MANEUVERING.
>> I'M GOING TO DO A CIRCLE.
>> RIGHT NOW, HE'S CIRCLING
AROUND, TESTING THE BOAT, SEE
WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE YOU CAN SEE
FROM THE OUTSIDE.
MIGHT BE TAKING ON SOME KIND OF
WATER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND
GETTING A FEEL FOR THE
CONDITIONS OUTSIDE, SEE WHAT YOU
KNOW IS THE BEST.
>> TAKE IT.
>> HOLD ON TO THE RED BALL.
HEADS UP.
>> DO BOATERS NEED TO KNOW HOW
TO TIE THEIR BOAT TO YOURS?
>> NO, THEY DON'T.
>> THEY DON'T.
>> ALL WE DO, WHEN WE COME UP TO
THEM, WE'LL BRIEF THEM ON WHAT'S
GOING ON.
WE'LL TELL YOU LIKE HEY, WE'RE
GOING TO THROW YOU THE RED BALL,
WE TELL YOU TO HOLD ON TO THE
RED BALL UNTIL THEY PULL IT IN.
WHEN YOU GET THE OTHER HEIGHT OF
THE LINE, THE WHITE LINE, YOU
PUT IT ON THAT.
ONCE THEY DO THAT, WE TELL THEM
TO GET OFF THE BOW AND GET AWAY
FROM IT AND WE HANDLE IT FROM
THERE.
AND IF THEY HAVE ANY DISTRESS,
THERE'S WAY TO ALERT US, WAVE
YOUR HANDS, IF YOU'VE GOT LIKE
SOMETHING ON BOARD WHERE YOU CAN
FLASHLIGHTS AT US OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE
A WAY FOR THEM -- THEY DON'T
HAVE A RADIO ALREADY, YOU KNOW,
A WAY FOR THEM TO COMMUNICATE
WITH US, BACK-AND-FORTH, IN CASE
THEY HAVE AN EMERGENCY ON BOARD
OR WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH
THEM.
>>
>>
>> 100 FEET.
GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE BEND.
ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COMING UP.
>> ROGER.
>> HAVE THE GUYS TOW THE LINE.
>> WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO HERE
IS KEEP EYES ON THAT BOAT AT ALL
TIMES, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT
LEANING A CERTAIN WAY OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IF THEY'RE HITTING WAVES REALLY
HARD BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TOO
FAST, THE COCKPIT WILL
DETERMINE, OK, MAYBE WE NEED
SOME MORE LINE OUT OR NEED TO
SLOW DOWN.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE
600-FOOT OF TOW LINE.
YOU SEE IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT
100 FEET OUT THERE.
ON A REALLY BAD DAY, THERE'S A
LOT OF WAVES, WE COULD HAVE THEM
300, 400 FEET OUT THERE, THE TOW
LINE, JUST TO KEEP THE BOATS IN
STEP WITH THE WAVES, SO WE'RE
NOT BEATING THEM UP, TRYING TO
GET THEM BACK.
THE DANGER IS, THEY CAN TAKE ON
A BUNCH OF WATER FROM THE WAVES.
WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S
HAPPENING TO THEM BACK THERE.
>> WE REALLY MONITOR HOW SAFELY
WE DO THIS, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT
OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, THAT
WHEN YOU'RE IN A CASE, YOU KNOW,
ADRENALINE IS RUNNING, SO WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE VERY
PROFICIENT AT IT WHEN IT COMES
TO OUR TRAINING, SO THAT WHEN WE
GET OUT THERE, THAT'S BASICALLY
SECOND NATURE.
>> RUN ON BOARD.
>>
>>
>> BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR LIFE
JACKET WHEN YOU'RE ON THE WATER
THIS SEASON.
LET'S TURN OUR FOCUS NOW TO
WISCONSIN'S PREHISTORIC TIMES
AND A SMALL, PRIVATE MUSEUM THAT
PRESERVES THE ARTIFACTS OF THAT
ERA.
THE HENSCHEL FAMILY HAS LIVED ON
THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SHEBOYGAN
MARSH FOR MORE THAN 160 YEARS,
AND NATIVE AMERICANS LIVED THERE
FOR CENTURIES BEFORE THEM.
IN 1979, GARY HENSCHEL AND HIS
WIFE ROSALIE STARTED A SMALL
MUSEUM OF INDIAN ARTIFACTS FOUND
ON THE PROPERTY.
WHEN WE VISITED THE MUSEUM, GARY
SHOWED US HIS REMARKABLE
COLLECTION THAT DOCUMENTS THE
EARLY INHABITANTS OF THIS
SPECIAL PLACE.
>> WELL, THIS IS A SATELLITE
SHOT OF THIS AREA AND IT SHOWS
HOW BIG THAT THIS LAKE USED TO
BE AT ONE TIME.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, YOU CAN SEE
THAT THIS IS A LARGE LAKE RIGHT
IN HERE, ELKHART LAKE IS RIGHT
HERE, THEY WERE CONNECTED.
THIS IS A 300-ACRE LAKE.
THIS IS A 13,000-ACRE LAKE.
AND WE ARE LOCATED RIGHT HERE,
SO THIS IS THE HIGHEST POINT
AROUND THE LAKE, WITH A FRESH
SPRING.
SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD
PLACE FOR NATIVE PEOPLE TO LIVE.
WE'VE DONE SOME SURVEY WORK
AROUND HERE WHEN THE
ARCHAEOLOGISTS WERE HERE IN
1987, 1988 AND 1989 AND THEY
ACTUALLY HIRED ME TO GO AROUND
HERE AND IDENTIFY SITES AND WE
IDENTIFIED 86 NEW SITES IN THIS
AREA, SO IT'S TREMENDOUSLY RICH
AREA.
WE KNOW THAT THIS SITE HAS BEEN
INHABITED FOR 10,000 YEARS AND
HOW WE KNOW THAT IS BY THE
CERTAIN TYPES OF POINTS WE
FINDS, SO HOW WE HAVE IDENTIFIED
OUR MUSEUM IS WE SET IT UP IN
TIME PERIODS, SO WE HAVE THE
PALEO TIME PERIOD AND THEN THE
NEXT TIME PERIOD WOULD BE
ARCHAIC.
THESE PEOPLE WERE KNOWN TO BE
NOMADIC AND THEN WE HAD THE
MIDDLE, LATE, AND EARLY WOODLAND
AND ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE
CLOVIS, AND I'LL JUST SHOW THIS
HERE.
THESE ARE FOUND IN A SITE CALLED
CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO AND THEY
WOULD FIND THEM WITH EXTINCT
MAMMALS, AND IF YOU FOUND THESE
LYING TOGETHER IN YOUR DIG SITE,
THEN YOU WOULD KNOW THEY'RE
EQUALLY AS OLD, SO THAT'S HOW
THEY'VE TAKEN ON THEIR NAMES.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT
POINTS IN THIS COLLECTION, THIS
WOULD BE CALLED A PALEO POINT,
SO IT'S FROM THE PALEO TIME
PERIOD, AROUND HERE, 8,000 TO
10,000 TIME PERIOD.
THE NEXT TIME PERIOD IS THE AR
ARCHAIC TIME PERIOD.
AND THEY WERE GETTING COPPER
FROM THE LAKE SUPERIOR AND OLD
HAMMERING IT AND MAKING THE
BEAUTIFUL ARTIFACTS.
THE NEXT TIME PERIOD IS EARLY
WOODLAND ABANDON IN THE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL -- AND IN THE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG, A GROUP
CALLED ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESCUE, WE
FOUND A LOT OF POINTS LIKE THIS
ONE, AND WITH THOSE POINTS, WE
FOUND POTTERY THAT'S CALLED CORK
MARK POTTERY AND THEY KNOW FROM
OTHER DIGS THAT THIS POTTERY
WILL AGE ABOUT 2500 YEARS AGO,
SO IF THEY'RE FOUND LYING
TOGETHER ON THIS SAME LEVEL,
THEN YOU KNOW THEY'RE EQUALLY AS
OLD AND WE CALL THEM HENSCHEL
POINTS.
IT'S KINDS OF AN HONOR FOR US.
THE NEXT TIME PERIOD IS MIDDLE
WOODLAND.
SOME OF THE PERIODS WE KNOW THAT
USE THE CULTURE ARE CALLED HOPE
WELL OR ADENA.
THE LAST ONE WAS LAKE WOODLAND
OR MISSISSIPPIAN AND THEY'RE
KNOWN TO MAKE THE SMALL
TRIANGLEAR POINTS.
THESE ARE THE ONES SHOT FROM A
BOW.
MOST OF THE HISTORY, 8,000 TO
10,000 YEARS, IS WITHOUT A BOW,
AND WHEN THE I WILL WILL ONES
ARE BEING MADE, THAT'S WHEN THE
BOW WAS INTRODUCED, 1800 TO
2,000 YEARS AGO.
THEY PUT THE LARGE POINT ON
SPEARS LIKE THIS, AND WHEN THEY
DID THAT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO
THROW THEM.
BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO
ANY KIND OF PENETRATION WITH
THIS, SO WHAT THEY DID WAS
INVENTED A TOOL LIKE THIS, AND
IT'S AN EXTENSION OF YOUR ARM.
SO YOU HOOK THAT IN TO THE
SPEAR, AND NOW YOU THROW IT.
SO WHEN YOU THROW IT, THIS COMES
UP, HANDLE YOU THROW FROM A
HIGHER -- AND YOU THROW FROM A
HIGHER POINT.
IT ACTUALLY INCREASES YOUR ARM
STRENGTH ABOUT TWO AND A HALF
TIMES.
THE LONGEST DISTANCE ANYBODY HAS
EVER THROWN ONE IS 616 FEET.
>> WOW.
>> SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT A
TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE THIS WOULD
BE.
MY FAVORITE OF COURSE IS THE ONE
THAT THEY PUT THE BANNER STONE
ON THE SHAFT.
NOW, THIS IS A REPLICA FROM MY
NEIGHBOR, SO I USED THE SAME
STYLE BANNER STONE, MADE THE
SHAFT ACCORDING TO THE HOLE.
WHEN YOU THREW THIS, AND IT HIT
WHATEVER YOU WERE THROWING AT,
THEN THAT BANNER STONE WOULD FLY
FORWARD SO QUICKLY, CAUSING MORE
MOMENTUM INTO THE ANIMAL.
WE DO KNOW THAT THEY HAD
DETACHABLE TIPS.
SO WHEN THEY DID THAT, THEY ONLY
NEEDED TO CARRY ONE SPEAR AND
MAYBE FIVE OR SIX OF THESE.
WHAT AN ADVANTAGE THIS WOULD BE.
AFTER THAT, THESE POINTS WERE
BEING MADE AND THEY'RE MADE
ABOUT 1800 TO 2,000 YEARS AGO.
IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD,
THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT
THEY'RE ABOUT THAT OLD.
THIS WOULD NOT WORK VERY WELL ON
THE SPEAR, SO WHAT YOU WOULD DO
WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WITH
AN ARROW, IS PUT IT IN A BOW AND
WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE BOW HERE,
IT'S NAMED AFTER INDIANS IN
MAINE AND WHEN YOU PULL THIS
BOWE, YOU GET THE DOUBLE PUSH
OUT OF IT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE LIMBS WILL AT
ONE POINT DRAW BACK AND IT
SHOOTS IT OUT MUCH FARTHER.
SO THIS IS A TREMENDOUS
ADVANTAGE.
>> NOW, WERE MOST OF THESE
POINTS FOUND RIGHT AROUND HERE?
>> YES, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 95%
OF WHAT'S IN THIS MUSEUM HAS
BEEN FOUND HERE, AND THEY HAVE
NOT NECESSARILY BEEN DUG.
MOST OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND
HAVE BEEN SURFACE COLLECTED.
WE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF
COLLECTION FROM THE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG WHEN THE
MILWAUKEE MUSEUM WAS HERE
THOUGH, SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS
THAT HAVE BEEN DUG.
>> I SEE YOU HAVE SOME TOOLS AS
WELL.
>> YEAH, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE
TOOLS HERE THAT I WILL LIKE TO
SHOW YOU.
THIS IS A KNIFE.
THIS ONE IS ON A WOODEN HANDLE,
TIED WITH SPINDLE FROM AN
ANIMAL'S LEGS OR TENDONS.
HERE'S ONE ON A DEER ANTLER.
YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THINGS WERE
PUT ON HANDLES, WHICH YOU
NORMALLY DON'T SEE WHETHER YOU
SEE A COLLECTION, BUT IF YOU
ATTACH A HANDLE TO IT, YOU CAN
SEE HOW IT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED.
WE ALSO HAVE A DRILL HERE, AND
THEY MADE SOMETHING LIKE THIS
CALLED A T-DRILL, AND THEY WOULD
ATTACH IT TO A SHAFT, AND THEN
IF YOU PUT IT IN WHAT YOU'RE
DRILLING AND YOU CAN SEE HOW YOU
CAN DRILL WITH IT.
WE DO KNOW THAT THEY ALSO MADE
SOMETHING LEAK THIS, CALLED A
PUMP TRAIL, AND THAT ONE WOULD
WORK VERY NICELY, A LOT FAST,
AND YOU COULD START A FIRE WITH
THIS EVEN.
HERE WE HAVE A TOMAHAWK AND
THESE ARE USUALLY TAPERED, SO
WHEN THEY'RE PLACED INTO A
SHAFT, THEY WORK MUCH BETTER.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE
LARGER AXIS.
THESE ARE USUALLY HOLD EARLY
THAN THE TOMAHAWK.
>> NOW THESE STONES WERE FOUND
HERE.
>> THESE STONES WERE FOUND HERE.
ALL WE'VE DONE IS RECREATED THE
HANDLE, SO YOU CAN IDENTIFY HOW
THAT WAS USED.
THE EASY WAY TO PUT ANAXON A
HANDLE WOULD BE CUT A HOLE ON
IT, BECAUSE THESE ARE TAPERED,
THEY WILL GET TIGHTER AND THEN
YOU WRAP IT WITH A SINEW OR
LEATHER.
A YOUNG BOY WAS NAMED UNDER THE
MENOMONEE CLAN, UNDER THE
THUNDERBIRD CLAN OF THE
MENOMONEE, SO HE KNEW THE
RELIGIONS AND MEDICINES OF THE
MENOMONEE, SO ONE OF THE THINGS
HE TOLD ME WITH AS A BOY, HIS
FATHER USED TO TAKE HIM OUT AND
THEY WOULD SELECT A STONE AND
THEY WOULD MAKE THE AX, MERELY
BY TAKING A HAMMER AND POUNDING
IT, A STONE HAMMER.
AFTER THEY HAD IT SHAMED, THEY
WOULD THEN GO IN TO THE WOODS
AND THEY MIGHT USE LIKE THEIR
KNIFE AND CUT A HOLE IN THAT
TREE.
DON'T CUT THE TREE DOWN THOUGH
AND THEN THEY WOULD PLACE THEIR
AX INTO THE SHAFT, POUND IT IN
REALLY TIGHT.
PUT SAP OR SOMETHING AROUND HERE
TO KEEP THAT SECURE AND KEEP IT
GROWING.
AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS, THAT WILL
HAVE GROWN SO TIGHT, THAT YOU
CAN'T TAKE IT OUT ANYMORE, AND
THEN THEY WOULD HAVE CUT THEM
OFF.
AND THOSE ARE KNOWN AS AX YARDS,
BUT YOU CAN SEE ALL THE LESSONS
YOU'RE BEING TAUGHT HERE, HOW IT
SELECT THE STONE, HOW TO MAKE
THE AX, HOW TO PUT A HOLE IN THE
TREE, HOW TO KEEP THE TREE ALIVE
AND THEN PATIENCE, TO WAIT FOR
YOUR AX.
SO IT'S VERY LUCKY HE TOLD ME
THAT.
>> GARY, I SEE YOUR BOOK,
CATALOGS A LOT OF THESE POINTS,
AND TALKS ABOUT ARE WHERE THEY
WERE FOUND AND THE DIFFERENT
PERIODS.
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT OF
WORK.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION
OUT THERE LIKE THIS, SO I JUST
FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE COULD GO
AWAY WITH, IF THEY DID FIND AN
ARROWHEAD AND YOU CAN IDENTIFY
WITH HOW OLD IT IS.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING
AND THEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS, YOU
KNOW, HOW OLD WAS IT, WHAT'S IT
MADE OUT OF, HOW WAS IT CHIPPED?
WHAT CULTURE IS IT FROM?
SO THIS HELPS YOU IDENTIFY A LOT
OF THAT.
>> NOW YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT A A
LOT OF THESE POINTS AND OTHER
ARTIFACTS WERE FOUND RIGHT HERE
ON YOUR SITE.
WHAT IS THERE TO SEE OUTSIDE?
>> WELL, WE HAVE THE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG YOU CAN SEE
AND MOUNDS IN THE WOODS.
THOSE ARE EFFIGY MOUNDS.
THEY WILL DATE 800 TO 1200 YEARS
AGO AND WE HAVE THE LARGE MOUND
THAT WE'RE RECREATING A HOPEWELL
MOUND FOUND THEY'RE BY MY GREAT
GRANDFATHER.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT.
>> NEXT WEEK, WE'LL RETURN TO
THE HENSCHEL INDIAN MUSEUM FOR A
LOOK AT A RECREATED HOPEWELL
BURIAL MOUND, SOME EFFIGY
MOUNDS, AND A DIG SITE ON THE
SHORE OF THE FORMER LAKE WHERE
ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE STUDIED MANY
CENTURIES OF CULTURAL ARTIFACTS.
>> WISCONSIN'S EARLIEST
INHABITANTS WERE HUNTERS AND
TRAPPERS, AND SO WERE THE FIRST
NONNATIVE SETTLERS WHO CAME TO
NORTHERN WISCONSIN DURING THE
FUR TRADE, WHEN THE BEAVER WAS
THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER ANIMAL,
THANKS TO THE EUROPEAN FASHION
OF WEARING FELT HATS MADE OF
BEAVER FUR.
TODAY, SOME PEOPLE STILL TRAP
BEAVERS FOR THEIR PELTS AND TO
CONTROL THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSE TO
WOOD LOTS AND TROUT STREAMS.
>> WE'RE IN RACINE COUNTY AND
I'M OUT WITH A BUDDY OF MINE,
TOM WONDRASH AND TOM, YOU LIKE
TO TRAP BEAVER AND YOU'RE GOING
TO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT IT TODAY.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A BEAVER
SPOT.
>> WHEN WE'RE GOING DOWN THE
RIVER, JUDY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR
AREAS WHERE BEAVERS ARE ACTIVE.
YOU CAN SEE A FOOD PLOT IN FRONT
OF -- THE BEAVERS IN THIS AREA
ARE ACTUALLY BANK BEAVERS, THEY
DON'T SET THE BIG DAMS ACROSS
THE RIVER AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF
FOR THE MOST PART AND THEY HAVE
FOOD PLOTS SET DOWN FOR THE
WINTER, THEY'RE CHEWING IT OFF
AND DRAGGING IT IN FOR THE
WINTER, SO WHEN THE WINTER
FREEZES UP, THEY CAN GRAB THAT,
EAT THAT AND GO BACK INTO THEIR
DENSE.
THIS IS A LARGE FOOD PLOT AND
THIS WOULD PROBABLY HOLD
ANYWHERE FROM SIX TO 12 BEAVER
IN THAT PARTICULAR LODGE RIGHT
THERE.
SO USUALLY A TYPICAL FOOD PLOT
IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A VEHICLE,
USUALLY TEAMS BIGGER AND HOLD
TWO, THREE, FOUR BEAVERS, BUT TO
KEEP THE FOOD THERE, THEY TRIM
THE STUFF OFF, TAKE IT IN THERE,
DRAG IT IN THERE AND THEY HAVE
FOOD TO EAT ALL WINTER LONG AS
THE RIVER FREEZES UP.
>> LET'S GO SET SOME TRAPS AND
SEE HOW WE DO.
>> SOUNDS GREAT.
GO GET THEM.
>> LET'S TELL THE FOLKS WHAT
THEY ARE.
>> JUDY, THIS IS A 330KANA BEAR,
THIS IS WHAT I PRIMARILY USE FOR
TRAPPING BEAVER ESPECIALLY THE
BEAVER WE'RE AFTER TODAY WILL BE
BANK BEAVER.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE BIG LODGES
LIKE I MENTIONED AND WE'LL BE
TRAPPING THEM IN THE HOLES THAT
GO UP IN TO THE BANKS AND
UNDERNEATH LOGS AND TREES AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THESE TRAPS ARE SET UNDER WATER,
OK, COMPLETELY UNDER WATER,
WHICH THEY HAVE TO BE BY D.N.R.
REGULATIONS AND RULES, AND OF
COURSE, YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE
SURE YOUR TRAPS ARE TAGGED
PROPERLY.
ALL MY TRAPS HAVE A COPPER TAG
ON THEM WITH NAME, ADDRESS,
CITY, STATE, AND ZIP CODE, OK,
AND YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THAT TAG IS AFFIXED TO THE
TRAP PROPERLY, SO IT CAN'T COME
OFF.
THESE ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST
TRAPS THAT ARE MADE FOR BEAVER
TRAPPINGS.
AGAIN, IT'S A 330KANA BEAR.
I ALSO HAVE A 750 M.B., A LEG
HOLE TRAP AND THESE ALSO ARE
VERY, VERY STRONG TRAP AND
BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS WITH
THESE IS THEY CATCH THE BEAVER
BY THE LEG, AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE
SETTING THEM ON THE RIVER LIKE
THAT, WE USUALLY PUT A DROWN
STAKE OUT, SO THEY GET WRAPPED
AROUND THE STAKE AND THEY'LL
DROWN THEMSELVES.
VERY STRONG TRAP, BE CAREFUL
SETTING THESE TRACEY.
AGAINST, THEY'RE VERY HEAVY
DUTY.
THEY'RE VERY, VERY STRONG
ANIMALS.
>> I UNDERSTAND THESE TRAPS ARE
TO HELP TRAP THE ANIMALS
HUMANELY.
ARE THERE TRAPS THAT ARE
ILLEGAL?
>> THERE ARE TRAPS THAT ARE
ILLEGAL.
THIS TRAP RIGHT HERE ACTUALLY
HAS TEETH ON IT THAT THEY USE
FOR BEAR HUNTING.
THOSE TYPES OF TRAPS ARE
DEFINITELY ILLEGAL.
WE'VE TRIED NOT AS STRONG A TRAP
FOR BEAVER, THEY PULL THEMSELVES
RIGHT OUT OF THEM.
THEY'RE VERY STRONG ANIMALS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING VERY
HEAVY DUTY TO HOLD THEM,
ESPECIALLY WITH THIS TYPE OF
TRAP.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE USING THIS
PARTICULAR TRAP TODAY.
WE'LL BE SETTING THE 330KANA
BEAR TRAP, IN THE BODY HOLDING
TRAP.
VERY HUMANELY, TAKES THE ANIMAL
OUT VERY QUICK AN EFFICIENT, OK.
>> THESE ARE VERY STRONG TRAPS,
AND WE HAVE ONE SETTING TOOL,
IT'S A SETTING TOOL, BASICALLY,
WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS RIGHT ON
THE TRAP, OK, THE RIGHT AMOUNT
OF PRESSURE, THIS IS A SAFETY
DEVICE RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF IT
HERE.
LET THIS GO AND THIS SAFETY
RIGHT HERE WILL ACTUALLY HOLD
THAT FROM SPRINGING ON YOU.
THE LAST THING THAT IS REMOVED
OR TAKEN OFF OF THE TRAP, ONCE
WE SET THE TRAP IN PLACE WHERE
WE WANT TO PUT IT.
OK.
NOW YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE BOTH OF
OUR SAFETIES IN PLACE, OK.
OUR SPRINGS ARE SET HERE, READY
TO GO.
OK.
NOW, WHAT WE DO, WE'RE ACTUALLY
SETTING THIS TRAP, WE'RE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN THIS UP,
OK.
AGAIN, HAVE A VERY GOOD GRIP ON
THIS TRAP WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT.
NOW, IF YOU NOTICE, SEE THE
SAFETIES ARE SLIDING ON HERE AS
WELL.
YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE
AGAIN THAT THESE ARE IN PLACE.
OK.
YOUR KEY IS GOING TO COME OVER
HERE, IT'S GOING TO LOCK, RIGHT
INSIDE HERE.
OK.
AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE YOUR
SAFETIES ARE IN PLACE.
OK.
HOLD THAT OUT HERE, MAKE SURE
THEY'RE GOOD ON HERE, BEFORE YOU
ACTUALLY RELEASE YOUR PANS HERE,
MAKE SURE IT'S READY TO GO.
OK.
NOW, WHEN WE SET THESE, THE TRAP
IS GOING TO SIT LIKE THIS, OR
LIKE THIS.
WHICH IS ACTUALLY HOW I LIKE TO
SET THE TRAP LIKE THIS HERE.
THERE'S NOT AS MUCH STUFF ON TOP
HERE FOR THEM TO SEE WHEN THEY
COME IN TO THE HOLE.
ONCE IT'S IN PLACE HERE, THE
LAST THING WE'LL DO IS TAKE OFF
THE SAFETY, WE'RE GOING TO POP
THESE OFF LIKE THIS HERE, THAT
TRAP WILL BE ALL SET TO GO.
ONCE THAT BEAVER SWIM THROUGH
THERE, TRIGGERING OR HITTING THE
TRIGGER RIGHT HERE, THAT TRAP
WILL INSTANTLY COME DOWN ON HIM
AND TAKE HIM OUT AND VERY LITTLE
MOVEMENT, VERY LITTLE THRASHING
OR ANYTHING ELSE.
USUALLY THEY'RE DONE PRETTY
QUICKLY.
I SCOUTED THIS POINT OUT HERE A
LITTLE BIT AND THIS IS A GOOD
SPOT TO SET A BEAVER TRAP.
NOW YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDER WHY?
>> YEAH.
>> IF YOU LOOK DOWN IN THE
WATER, SEE HOW THE GRAVEL IF THE
BOTTOM HERE, IS ACTUALLY KIND OF
CLEAN GRAVEL.
THE MUD IS WASHED OFF, IT TELLS
ME THERE'S TRAFFIC COMING IN AND
OUT OF THIS BANK RIGHT HERE, OK.
THIS BANK THAT WE'RE ON HAS
ACTUALLY GOT ABOUT THREE
DIFFERENT HOLES ON IT, OK, AND
THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, I CAN SEE
IS PRETTY ACTIVE, BASED UPON HOW
CLEAN IT IS GOING IN AND OUT, SO
I THINK THIS MAY BE A REALLY
GOOD SPOT TO GET A TRAP SET IN
HERE.
OK.
>> OK.
>>
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE AD GOO
SPOT.
-- TO BE A GOOD SPOT.
I WANT TO GET THIS CLEANED OUT
REALLY GOOD.
WE SET THE TRAP, IT'S STRAIGHT
UP AND DOWN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SEE IT
OR STABILIZE IT IT REALLY GOOD,
SO WHEN THE BEAVER COMES
THROUGH, HE'S GOING TO TRIP THAT
TRAP.
I'M GOING TO GO EYE HEAD AND
HAVE THE POSTS IN PLACE, PUT THE
TRAP DOWN THERE AND I'LL USE A
BUNCH OF DIFFERENT LITTLE PIECES
OF BRANCHES AND TWIGS THAT LOOK
NATURAL.
I'LL TRY TO STABILIZE THAT TRAP
ON THERE, SO WE CAN GET IT
MOVING, I'LL GET SOME MORE
BRANCHES IN THERE AND TRY TO
FUNNEL THEM RIGHT THROUGH WHERE
I WANT TO GO THROUGH.
OK.
>> CAN I GIVE YOU A HAND?
>> JUMP RIGHT IN.
HELP ME OUT.
>> SURE.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
>> NO, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET
THIS SET UP DOWN HERE,.
IT'S ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST.
YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
HAVE EVERYTHING EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> BECAUSE WE'RE DOWN IN THE
WATER THEN, KIDS AREN'T STEPPING
IN THEM AND DOGS AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THEY'RE RELATIVELY SAFE.
>> THESE 330'S HAVE TO BE SET
COMPLETELY UNDER WATER.
SET THE TRAP COMPLETELY UNDER
WATER, THE ONLY THING YOU CAN
CATCH IS YOUR TARGET SPECIES
HERE.
>> WHAT IF YOU GET A DIFFERENT
SPECIES, SAY AN OTTER?
>> THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO
DO, SEE A NONTARGET SPECIES,
SOMETHING YOU DON'T HAVE A
PERMIT FOR, YOU WANT TO CALL THE
D.N.R. TIP LINE AND THEY'LL TELL
YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.
THE LATIN AMERICA THING YOU WANT
TO BE -- THE LAST THING YOU WANT
TO BE DOING IS CARRYING OUT
SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A
PERMIT FOR OR A TAG FOR AND THEN
YOU HAVE LOTS OF EXPLAINING TO
DO.
FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS
MAKE A PHONE CALL.
>> YES, JUDY, WATER IS COLD.
YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERING WHY
I'M DOING THIS WITHOUT ANY
GLOVES ON, OK?
I ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW COLD
THE WATER IS, BUT I TELL YOU
WHAT, THE SAFETIES ON THIS TRAP,
IF I WEAR GLOVES, I CAN'T ALWAYS
FEEL HOW THEY ARE OR AND I'M
VERY CAREFUL ABOUT DOING THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S HALL
SET RIGHT AND MAKE SURE NOTHING
HAPPENS.
>> LIKE SHOOTING WITH GLOVES ON.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S
REALLY COLD OUT, JUDY.
WHEN IT GETS TO A POINT WHERE
IT'S LIKE 20 DEGREES OR
15 DEGREES, WATER IS ACTUALLY
WARMER THAN THE AIR.
>> WELL, TOM, WE'LL GET A FEW OF
THESE SET AND THEN MAYBE WE'LL
COME BACK TOMORROW AND SEE IF
WE'VE GOTTEN ANYTHING.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
WEEK'S FEATURES, VISIT
WWW.MPTV.ORG AND CLICK ON
"OUTDOOR WISCONSIN."
WELL, NEXT TIME DEBBY WOLNIAK
JOINS A U.S. COAST GUARD
AUXILIARY TEAM AS THEY PERFORM A
COURTESY SAFETY CHECK OF A NEW
BOAT IN MILWAUKEE HARBOR, WE'LL
CONCLUDE OUR SERIES ON THE
HENSCHEL INDIAN MUSEUM, AND JUDY
NUGENT CHECKS THOSE BEAVER TRAPS
WITH TOM WONDRASH.
I'M DAN SMALL.
JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK FOR
"OUTDOOR WISCONSIN."
♪ LACE UP YOUR BOOTS, GET OUT OF
TOWN ♪
♪ TAKE A WALK IN THE WILD OR SIT
DOWN AND LISTEN ♪
♪ LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF THE
CRITTERS OF THE NIGHT ♪
♪ TO THE WIND IN THE LEAVES AND
THE LITTLE RIVER RUN ♪
♪ COYOTE BROTHER HOWLIN' IN FULL
MOONLIGHT ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪
♪ HIKE, FISH, HUNT, CAMP, SAIL,
CANOE ♪
♪ SKI, PHOTOGRAPH, LAUGH, DO
WHAT YOU WANT TO ♪
♪ STICK YOUR NOSE WHERE THE WILD
ROSE GROWS ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪♪